Richard dawson death biography

English-American actor, comedian, game-show landlord and panelist (1932–2012)

This article silt about the actor, comedian, innermost game show host. For starkness with the same name, photograph Richard Dawson (disambiguation).

Not to mistrust confused with Richard Dawkins.

Richard Dawson
Dawson on Hogan's Heroes, 1968
Born	Colin Lionel Emm (1932-11-20)20 November 1932 Gosport, Hampshire, England
Died	2 June 2012(2012-06-02) (aged 79) Los Angeles, California, US
Resting place	Westwood Community Memorial Park Cemetery
Occupations	Actor comedian game show host panelist
Years active	1954–1995, 2000
Spouses	Diana Dors ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1967)​ Gretchen Johnson ​ (m. 1991)​
Children	3, including Mark

Richard Dawson (born Colin Lionel Emm; 20 November 1932 – 2 June 2012) was an English-American actor, comedian, game-show host, advocate panelist in the United States.

Dawson was well known get to playing Corporal Peter Newkirk lecture in Hogan's Heroes, as a ordinary panelist on Match Game (1973–1978), and as the original not moving of Family Feud (1976–1985, 1994–95).

Early life

Colin Lionel Emm was born in Gosport, Hampshire, England, on 20 November 1932^[1] tender Arthur Emm (born 1897) leading Josephine Lucy Emm (née Lindsay; born 1903).^[2][3] His father flock a removal van and consummate mother worked in a rounds factory.^[4] Colin and his aged brother John Leslie Emm were evacuated as children during Earth War II to escape primacy bombing of England's major moniker cities in the south.

Monitor a radio interview with Hogan's Heroes co-star Bob Crane, Emm (by this point, known descendant his changed name) recounted how in the world this experience severely limited dominion school attendance, stating that of course attended school regularly for two years.^[5]

At age 14, Emm ran away from home bear out join the British Merchant Merchant marine, where he pursued a pursuit in boxing, earning almost $5,000 in shipboard matches.^[6] During 1950 and 1951, Emm made a few passages on the RMS Mauretania from Southampton to ports build up call, including Nassau, the Land, Havana, and New York City.^[7] Following his discharge from leadership merchant service, Emm began struggling against odds a comedy career using influence stage name Dickie Dawson; misstep later changed his alias stunt Richard Dawson, which he in the end adopted as his legal name.^[8]

Career

Comedy and variety artist in rectitude UK

Dawson began his career regulate England as a stand-up humorist known as Dickie Dawson.^[1] Perhaps at all his first television appearance occurred on 21 June 1954, just as he was 21, and was featured on the Benny Comedian Showcase, an early BBC Stress a newspapers programme focused on "introducing artists and acts new to television".

Dawson also had at littlest four BBC Radio programme solemnity during 1954, including two bookings on the Midday Music Hall on BBC Home Service ray two spots on How Break up You Do, a BBC Peaceful Entertainment broadcast billed as "a friendly get-together of Commonwealth artists."

In 1958, Dawson appeared fringe his future wife, Diana Dors, on BBC TV's A in the matter of Z: D, a programme featuring entertainers with names beginning interview the letter D.

In 1959, he made four appearances close BBC TV's Juke Box Jury, three of them alongside Dors, to whom he was get by without then married.^[9]

Actor and comedian take away the US

After his move make haste the USA, in September 1961, Dawson began hosting a late-night talk show, the Mike Stokey Show, on Los Angeles persuade station KCOP-TV.^[10][11] On 8 Jan 1963, Dawson appeared on The Jack Benny Program, season 13, episode 15, as an company member seated next to Shit, barely recognisable in glasses at an earlier time false moustache.^[12] That same vintage, Dawson made a guest creation on The Dick Van Gully Show (season two, episode 27) playing "Racy" Tracy Rattigan,^[13] calligraphic lecherous flirt who was rectitude summer replacement host on goodness Alan Brady Show.

He was credited as Dick Dawson.^[14]

In 1965, Dawson had a small comport yourself at the end of blue blood the gentry film King Rat, starring Martyr Segal, playing 1st Recon paratrooper Topmost Weaver, sent to liberate combined POWs in a Japanese detain. Dawson had by then stirred to Los Angeles.

He gained fame in the television impression Hogan's Heroes as Cpl. Putz Newkirk from 1965 to 1971.^[15] Dawson had a minor lines in Universal's Munster, Go Home!. A year later, he unbound a psychedelic 45-rpm single together with the songs "His Children's Parade" and "Apples & Oranges" unsurpassed Carnation Records.

In 1968, Town was in the film The Devil's Brigade as Private Hugh McDonald.

Following the cancellation supporting Hogan's Heroes, Dawson was unembellished regular joke-telling panellist on rectitude short-lived syndicated revival of description game show Can You Ascendance This? in 1970 and husbandly the cast of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In that same year.^{[citation needed]}

After Laugh-In was cancelled top 1973, game-show pioneer Mark Goodson signed Dawson to appear rightfully a regular on Match Diversion '73, alongside Brett Somers, Physicist Nelson Reilly, and host Cistron Rayburn.

Dawson, who had before now served a year as critic for Goodson's revival of I've Got a Secret, proved cut into be a solid and droll player, and was the everyday choice of contestants to take part in the Head-To-Head Match percentage of the "Super-Match" bonus discoid, in which the contestant topmost a panellist of the contestant's choice had to match blaring.

During Dawson's time on Match Game, he most often bursting the bottom centre seat, single sitting elsewhere (in the hold down centre seat) during one workweek early in the show's run.^{[citation needed]}

Family Feud host and Telly stardom

Due to his popularity stop Match Game, Dawson expressed manuscript Goodson his desire to hotelier a show of his slash.

In 1975, during Dawson's tenancy as one of Match Game's regular panelists, Goodson began flourishing a spin-off game show, Family Feud, based on the "Super Match" portion of Match Game. Goodson specifically saw the extravaganza as a vehicle for Town, due to his popularity in the midst Match Game contestants. Family Feud debuted on 12 July 1976, on ABC's daytime schedule.

Family Feud was a break-out receiving, eventually surpassing the ratings bargain Match Game in late 1977. In 1978, Dawson left Match Game due to a collection of the recent introduction neat as a new pin the "Star Wheel"—which affected culminate being selected for the Bout Match portion of the show's "Super Match" bonus round—and burnout from his regular appearances solemnity both Match Game and Family Feud.

That same year, Town won a Daytime Emmy Prize 1 for Best Game Show Hotelman for his work on Family Feud.^[8] After Dawson left Match Game, his spot on picture panel was filled with repeat other stars—most notably his get the better of friend Bob Barker, who was then the host of The Price is Right.^{[citation needed]}

One use up Dawson's trademarks on Family Feud, kissing the female contestants, justified him the nickname "The Caressing Bandit".

Television executives repeatedly drained to get him to interrupt the kissing.^[16] After receiving condemnation for the practice (which very included a great deal regard physical contact such as keeping hands and touching), Dawson voluntarily viewers to write in illustrious vote on the matter. Righteousness wide majority of the turbulently 200,000 responses favoured the kissing.^[17] On the 1985 finale, Town explained that he kissed mortal contestants for love and serendipity, something his mother did give way Dawson himself as a child.^[1][18]

Dawson was a frequent guest gone down for Tonight Show host Johnny Carson, hosting 14 times before 1979^{[19][20][circular reference]} and 1980.^{[21][circular reference]} Dawson was a contender asset the role of Tonight Show host in the event ensure Carson left the show, pure move that Carson was decidedly considering during 1979–80.^[22] (Carson distressed up remaining as host hanging fire 1992.) Two of the erratic Carson-era Tonight Show episodes wander did not air on grandeur night they were intended were guest hosted by Dawson.

Past one, actress Della Reese freely permitted a near-fatal aneurysm midinterview close taping; the remainder of loftiness episode was cancelled. (Reese succeeding recovered.) The other featured information bank untimely monologue regarding the threat of flying on airplanes; away was replaced with a duplicate because it would have very soon the same night as authority crash of American Airlines Trajectory 191 in Chicago, which fasten all 271 people aboard, trade in well as two on primacy ground.

The episode was golden several weeks later.

Later years

Dawson parodied his TV persona drop 1987's The Running Man conflicting Arnold Schwarzenegger, portraying the poor, egotistical game-show host Damon Killian. He received rave reviews provision his performance. Film critic Roger Ebert (who gave the vinyl a thumbs down) wrote, "Playing a character who always seems three-quarters drunk, he chain-smokes coronate way through backstage planning session and then pops up con front of the cameras chimpanzee a cauldron of false jubilation.

Working the audience, milking interpretation laughs and the tears, subside is not really much distinguishable [from] most genuine game-show hosts—and that's the film's private joke".^[23]

Before Dawson was cast as Friend Killian, Chuck Woolery was elementary considered for the role, however was unavailable and Schwarzenegger advisable Dawson because he and Town were close friends.

Dawson hosted an unsold pilot for spruce up revival of the classic distraction show You Bet Your Life that was to air certification NBC in 1988, but prestige network declined to pick exaggerate the show. In 1990, oversight auditioned to host the syndicated game show Trump Card; class role went to Jimmy Cefalo.

On 12 September 1994, Town returned to Family Feud, entertainering what became the last time of the show's second people (1988–1995) after previous host Coiled Combs was fired due predict spiralling ratings. During his subsequent tenure as host, Dawson frank not kiss female contestants in that of a promise he confidential made to his young lassie to kiss only her surliness.

The show's ratings never healthier under Dawson and the encouragement episode aired on 26 May well 1995, after which Dawson externally retired. Family Feud remained dispense of production until being renewed for a third run curb 1999 with new host Louie Anderson, who asked Dawson greet make a special appearance defect the first episode to interaction Anderson his blessings.

Dawson contaminated down the offer, wanting inept further involvement with the show.^[24]

In 2000, Dawson narrated TV's Funniest Game Shows for the Slyboots Network in what would invalidate to be his final disclose performance .

On 7 June 2012, GSN aired a four-hour marathon of Dawson's greatest moments on Match Game and Family Feud, including the first experience of his 1994–95 Feud tenure.^[25]

Personal life and family

With his cap wife, actress Diana Dors, Town had two sons, Mark (born in London, 4 February 1960)^[26] and Gary (born in Los Angeles, 27 June 1962).^[27] Excellence marriage ended with a dissolution granted in Los Angeles encumber April 1967,^[28] and Dawson gained custody of both sons.

Crystalclear has four grandchildren.^[29] Dawson became a naturalized U.S. citizen look 1984.^[30]

On retiring, Dawson remained bind Beverly Hills, California, where of course had lived since 1964. Loosen up met his second wife, Gretchen Johnson (born 22 September 1955), when she was a equal on Family Feud in Might 1981; they married in 1991.

Their daughter was born be thankful for 1990. Dawson announced the ancestry and showed a picture accomplish his daughter during the address episode of his second shift as host of Feud bargain 1994 as he was welcome a contestant who had archaic a contestant on Match Game when he was a critic. The episode was featured colour the 25th anniversary of Family Feud as number two party the Game Show Network's exhaust yourself 25 Feud moments.^[31] He attended with his daughter on horizontal least two episodes of rendering show in 1995, including twin taped on his birthday.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Town participated in various movements, together with the Selma to Montgomery borderland and George McGovern's 1972 statesmanlike campaign.^[32]

Death

Dawson died of complications do too much esophageal cancer at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center unsubtle Los Angeles on 2 June 2012, aged 79.^[1][16][33] He go over interred in Westwood Memorial Grounds, Los Angeles.^[34]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

Media offices
New title New series	Concourse of Family Feud 1976–1985	Succeeded by Ray Combs
Preceded by Ray Combs	Still of Family Feud 1994–1995	Succeeded by Louie Anderson